Classic opera in Guildford

Russian State Ballet & Opera House bring Madam Butterfly to Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on Monday and Tuesday, February 1 and 2.

Spokeswoman Julia Ignatowa promised one of the most colourful and exotic operas, with music by Giacomo Puccini, Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, sung in Italian with English surtitles.

“No opera can match the tragedy and sorrow of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. This tale of the doomed love of an American naval lieutenant and his young Japanese bride inspired Puccini to write some of his most sublime and beautiful music.

“Set in Japan at the turn of the century, Madam Butterfly is among the most colourful and exotic of all operas, and from its theme of noble self-sacrifice spring melodies that grip your heart. It tells the story of a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to heartbreak and tragedy.

“The premiere of this exquisite production, with its beautiful set and costumes, intensifies the emotion in an already heart-breaking opera. This touching story of innocent love crushed amidst two utterly different cultures resonates as strongly as ever in today’s world.”

Producer Alexej Ignatow, of Amande Concerts Ltd, who has co-ordinated the UK tour, said: “We are constantly on the lookout for new challenges, to ensure that our opera and ballet audiences get a chance to experience a wide spectrum of various classic pieces”.

With extensive national tours that get our productions seen the length and breadth of the country, we are able to offer national audiences in various theatres an unforgettable experience at a fraction of the price, all without sacrificing quality. So, it is very close to my heart to continue working with theatres all over the UK to deliver top quality productions every year and make new converts wherever we go.

“No experience is needed to enjoy these classics. Our sets and costume designs, as well as the informative programmes make the productions very accessible and most of all, enjoyable. For opera, English surtitles make it easy to follow the story as you listen to the performance sung in its original language.”

Alexej added: “Amande Concerts is a company that is dedicated to delivering productions of the highest quality to British and European regional audiences. It has over 15 years of experience and specialises in promoting Russian culture to showcase a variety of shows from the most popular repertoire of classical ballet and opera.